Hanford stabilizes final reactor fuel storage basin
Workers at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site in Washington state recently finished filling the last large concrete basin at the K Reactor Area with cement-like grout. The basin stored reactor fuel rods from historic plutonium production in the 1950s.
A worker monitored the installation of grout in Hanford’s K West Reactor Basin. (Photo: DOE)
Trucks delivered grout to the K West Reactor spent fuel storage basin at the Hanford Site. (Photo: DOE)
Crews with Central Plateau Cleanup Company, a contractor of the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management, placed about 6,500 cubic yards of grout in the K West Reactor Basin, enough to fill two Olympic-size swimming pools, according to the DOE.
The work: The grout was placed after contaminated water from the 1.2-million-gallon basin was pumped out in July. The grout surrounds contaminated debris left in the basin and stabilizes it for future demolition.
“Our Hanford team continues to safely and efficiently complete projects that reduce risks to groundwater and the Columbia River as the cleanup mission progresses,” said Andy Wiborg, acting deputy assistant manager for DOE-EM’s river and plateau cleanup.
Stats: The basin measures 125 feet by 67 feet and it contained 16 feet of water to provide radiation shielding for workers.
Crews filled the basin in three layers. The first foot covered contaminated debris on the floor. The second layer is 14 feet of controlled density fill, which is less dense than concrete. The third layer consists of 9 inches of grout on top to complete the work.
Grout amount: Drivers delivered about 750 truckloads of grout during the project. To shorten the time it took to go back and forth between deliveries, a grout plant was built nearby to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
“Finishing grouting of the basin is a critical step in our mission to clean up the K Reactor Area,” said project manager Mike Kruzic. “I’m proud of our team’s focus and commitment to safety throughout this complex project.”
